1st Latin Meeting in Analytic Philosophy

Faculty of Letters, University of Lisbon
6-8 July 2001

Paolo Leonardi “invented” the formula of bi-lateral meetings (Italo-Spanish, Italo-French…): not many people, all invited by a scientific committee (no call for papers), sometimes a discussant or two, sometimes no discussants at all, but always much time for discussion obviously open to other participants (from any country) who would like to attend. A simple formula which has been successful.

For some time the possibility has been discussed in ESAP circles of extending the formula to a small group of countries, let us say “south west european countries”: Portugal, Spain, France, part of Switzerland, Italy. These are “latin” countries and we thought it would be a good idea to invite also some philosophers from South America. The Latin connection is important. There is a strong series of affinities, intellectual, affective and geographic, between southern european countries. The main argument in favour of this link is not due to these contingencies, but to the fact that France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, even Greece encounter similar institutional problems, which countries like Sweden have not encountered because their university system is more anglo-saxon by training and structure. We believe we should reinforce the southern line. If it becomes strong, it will equilibrate the traditional cultural connexions between the English speaking countries (US-Ireland-UK) and the Nothern Countries (Sweden-Denmark, Finland mainly).

We are happy to announce the first Latin Meeting organized under the auspices of ESAP. It will take place in Lisboa on 5-8 July 2001. The venue will be the Department of Philosophy, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade (metro station: Cidade Universitária). The members of the scientific committee are João Branquinho (Lisboa), Josep Corbi (Valência), and Carlo Penco (Genova). João is the local organizer.